Shirt packaging device



March 6, 1956 w, M, CHACE ET AL 2,737,322

, SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1954 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 wan/2M en/0e 5'. m5

March 6, 1956 w. M. CHACE ErAL 2,737,322

sum PACKAGING'DEVICE Filed-March 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTORS F, 7 M/L/HM M 0/405 16 Hem 0e 5. 0045 United States Patent SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE William M. Chace, North Hollywood, Calif., and Arthur Cole, Denver, Colo.; said Cole assignor to said ace Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,292

Claims. (Cl. 223-71) This invention relates to shirt packaging devices for collar attached shirts and especially to those formed in a single, flat blank having a shirt mounting section, a collar backing section, and a collar overlying panel with means therein for supporting the panel and means for interlocking the panel and support with the shirt collar and with each other.

Objects of the invention include the provision, in such a device, of more simplicity of structure and operation,

greater ruggedness, and more attractive appearance for I the completed package than has heretofore been accomplished in devices of this class and having similar purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, our invention comprises certain novel constructions, arrangements, and combinations of elements, and parts as hereinafter described and as defined in the appended claims and illustrated, in preferred. embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a piece of sheet material cut and scored to form a blank for our improved shirt package;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the shirt package formed from the blank illustrated at Fig. l and containing a folded shirt;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section as viewed from the indicated line 3-3 at Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of the Fig. 3 illustration on a further enlarged scale;

Figures 5, 6, and 7 illustrate isometrically and serially the steps in forming the complete package and enclosing the shirt, starting with the shirt folded on the mounting section and the collar-backing section and panel bent upwardly from the plane of the blank and the panelcontained elements partially bent into final position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified construction; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view, showing the manner in which the shirt package may be converted into an easel.

The blank from which our improved shirt package is formed is illustrated at Fig. 1 and comprises a generally rectangular sheet of material, such as cardboard, of such weight and rigidity that it will, when formed into the package, support and protect the shirt collar, but still of such cheapness that it may be thrown away when used once. The blank, containing all elements of the package, being in a single plane adapts it for compact storage and shipment prior to use.

By a single stamping, of conventional type, the blank is provided with cut and fold lines dividing it into a shirt-mounting section or board 10, a collar-backing section 11, a collar overlying panel 12, and a panel-supporting strip 13. Fold line 14 provides for folding the collar-backing element 11 upwardly at right angles to board 10 and fold line provides for folding panel 12 forwardly at right angles to backing element 11 and into a plane parallel to that of board 10. Lines 16 are cut through the blank thus forming strip 13 separated from the panel 12 except for the central connecting elements later described. The outer edge 13a of strip 13 is slightly concaved as shown at Fig. 1. While the ends of the strip 13 are illustrated as concaved, they may be of any desired shape or form.

Portion 17a of window 17 is cut from the panel in the original stamping operation, the balance of the window being formed by the bending of the locking element and tabs as later described.

A locking member 18 is cut from the panel by lines 19, 20, and 21. A link 22 connecting member 18 to strip 13 is severed from the panel and from the locking member along lines 23, but is connected to the locking element 18 along fold line 24 and to strip 13 along fold line 25 which is a continuation of line 16-16, as clearly seen at Fig. 1. On each side of link 22 the strip 13 is connected to the panel 12 along fold lines 26 aligned with cut lines 16 and fold line 25.

Ears 27 are severed from the panel 12 by cut lines 20 and continuations 19a and 21a of cut lines 19 and 20, but are connected to the panel 12 along fold lines 29. Fold lines 30 are provided in lock member 18 to allow points 31 to bend out of the plane of the locking member when pressed against the shirt front on completion of the package as illustrated at Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The overlapping ends of a conventional shirt neck band are indicated at 32, the collar button at 33, and the collar wings at 34. The inner and outer folds of the collar are indicated at 35 and 36 at Fig. 3. A conventional shoulder piece 37 and conventional shirt band 38 are indicated, but do not form a part of the present invention.

The operation of forming the blank into a shirt-contained package is very simple. The shirt is folded about board 10 in conventional manner in daily use, and well understood by laundered shirt packagers. The shirt then appears folded about the board as at Fig. 5. 'Then the operator, preferably positioned beyond strip 13 and facing the folded shirt, bends backing section 11, along fold line 14, to a substantially vertical position and then bends panel 12, along fold line 15, forwardly over the shirt collar till the backing section 11 and panel 12 are in the position illustrated at Fig. 5. Thereupon the operator places her thumbs on ears 27, and, while holding the side edges of the panel with her fingers, presses the ears downwardly and swings them, along fold lines 29, backwardly beneath the panel. While holding the ears in this position the operator, with her fingers, bends strip 13 downwardly to a right angle position relative to the plane of the panel, and bends the ends of the strip backwardly beneath the panel and inside the ears 27 to the position shown at Fig. 5. Panel 12 is then depressed to the top of the shirt collar and such depression positions cars 27 and strip 13 inside the shirt collar and incontact with the inner surface of the collar band, in which position strip 13s lower edge 13a rests upon the back of the shirt which covers board 10, and the upper edge of strip 13 contacts the under side of the panel whereby strip 13 supports panel 12 and prevents crushing of the collar.

Lock 18 is then bent, along fold line 24, to the position illustrated at Fig. 6, whereupon link 22 is bent along fold line 25, thus swinging lock member 18 forwardly, whereupon the Wings of the lock member are bent toward each other andinserted beneath the wings 34 of the collar, thus locking the package as ilustrated at Fig. 7.

The inward inclination of the side edges from about the mid portion of member 11 to the upper portion of panel 12 whence the edges are more sharply inclined toward each other, making a comparatively short front edge of the panel in the completed package, gives the package a much neater'appearance than it would have were the side edges of member 11 and panel 12 continued in alignment with the side edges of the board 10. Moreover, this illustrated'n'arrowing inclination of the side edges of the panel eliminates excessive hangover of the forward part of the panel beyond the shirt collar, and, by eliminating right angle corners at the, front edge of the panel, makes the panel less likely "to eaten as othef articles and lessens the danger of breaking the hangover portions.

It will be hotied'that the edge of window 17 is spaced fforn fold line 15 thus leaving a solid eonnecnon between member 11 and panel 12 an the "full length of fold line 15 so that the rear edge of panel 12 is supported through out its length by member 11, and panel 12 is thus sup ported above the shirt Collar, by member 11 at the back, and by strip '13 around the sides and front of the collar, thus preteefin' the collar from soiling and from crushing.

Reference is directed to Fig. 8. The construction here illustrated is the same as the preyiously described strucrnreegrc t that a modified link 22a is substituted for the link 22. The link 2221 is widest at its ends to give maximum strength at its connections with the strip 13 and locking member 18, but tapers to a narrow neck portion adjacent the strip 13 so as to provide a better fit in the case of collars in which the adjacent edges of the collar wings come close together. v 7

It "will be observed-that when the locking member 13 is in place, the link 22 or22a pulls upwardly from the lower margin of the locking member and tends to rotate the locking member clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. This is essential, as the upper margin of the locking member is fully restrained by theupper folded margins of the collar wings; whereas, if the force were counterclockwise, the lower free margins of the collar wings'would not hold the locking member in place.

Reference is now directed to Fig. 9. After use of the shirt packaging device for its intended purpose, the device may be refolded to form an easel by inserting the ex tremities of the strip 13 into slots 40. By providing a suitable cartoon figurefor cut-out figure on the back side of thepanel 10, such figure can then be supported in an upright position.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a simple, economical, efficient, and rugged shirt package while at the same time providing it with an attractive appearance, the provision or". the form which gives the attractive appearance coincidently adding to the ruggedness of the package.

While we have illustrated and described many details of construction, alternatives and equivalents, within the spirit of our invention, will occur to those skilled in the art; and, accordingly, we'desire that our protection be limited, not to such details, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l, in a shirt package having a shirt mounting panel, a collar backing panel, and a collar covering panel, the combination of a collar reinforcing means, comprising: a supporting strip --folda bly attached to the forward edge of said collar covering panel'opposite frorn'said'backing panel, and bendable'for insertion in a collar'underlying said collar covering panel; means foldable downwardly from said collar covering panel to restrain said supporting strip inbentform; a collar Wing locking member severable from said collar covering panel; and a link foldably connected-to the central portion of said locking member and said supporting strip, whereby said link and the central portion of said locking member may be disposed outside said collar adjacent-said strip, said locking member having lateral tabs adapted to be inserted under the wings of said collar.

2, In a shirt package having a shirt mounting panel, a collar backing panel, and a collar covering panel, the combinationof a collar reinforcing'means, comprising: a supporting strip 'foldably attached at spaced points -adjacenti-tscentral portion to saidcollar 'coveringp'anel; 'a linkrne'mber-severable fromsaid collar covering panel and foldably connected to said strip between its folded connection with said-overlying panel; and a collar reinforcing member severable from said collar covering panel and foldably attached to the end of said link remote from said strip, said strip being insertable into a collar underlying said collar covering panel, said reinforcing member being insertable under the wings of said collar.

3. A collar reinforcing means as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said link member extends from the upper margin of said strip to the lower margin of said reinforcing memher when said reinforcing member is disposed under said collar wings and said reinforcing member includes tab portions which project upwardly under said collar wings to their folded connection to the collar band.

4. A collar reinforcing means as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said supporting strip is'bendable and depending ears are foldably attached to said collar covering panel and are disposed to engage the extremities "of-said supporting strip to hold said strip in'arch form.

5. A collar reinforcing means as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said link member tapers to a narrow neck portion intermediate its ends.

6. In a blank for forming a protective package for collar-attached shirts, including a sheet of cardboard-like material divided by transverse parallel fold lines into a substantially rectangular shirt mounting board, a collar backing member and an apertured collar'overlying panel, the improvement including, in combination, apanel supporting strip centrally hin'gedly attached to the extended edge of the panel and adapted to be bent at right angles to the plane of the panel, said strip being severed from said panel except at said central attachment and thereby adapted for bending of its severed portions beneath the panel and to be positioned within the-short'collar adjacent the inner surface of theshirt neck band, a winged=locking member cut from the internal margin'of said panel bordering said aperture-at the side thereof nearest said strip and a link also cut from the panel but attached atone end to the locking member along a fold line and attached at its other end to said strip alonga fold line whereby, "when the panel is folded over the shirt collar with the strip inside the collar, the locking member may be swung :forwardly on said link and its wings inserted beneath the collar wings and thereby lock the panel and strip to the shirt.

7. The blank'defin'ed in claim 6, wherein: the strip :is atleast as wideas the height'of theshirt collar to be packaged, whereby when the strip is positioned within the collar, one-of its edges will-seatagainst the board and its opposite edge will seat against the under surface of the panel and thereby support th'enpanel atop th'e'collar.

-8. The-blank defined in claim 6, wherein: ears are formed in the panel and attached thereto along the fold lines but otherwise severed from the panel and thereby adapted to be bent-downwardly and swung backwardly beneath the 'paneland outsid'e of-the=backwardly bent 'stnip ends.

9. The blank defined in claim '6, wherein: the'panel is uncut, throughout the width of the panel, for-a substantial distance from the fold line btilIWBEl'l'thfi'iP'dIlfil and the collar backing member, whereby the collar backing member supports the panel throughout. the'width of the panel.

10. The blank defined in claim 6, wherein: the side edges 'of the blank incline gradually toward each :other from approximately the mid jportion 'of the collar backing member to at leastthe-mi'd portion "of the p'anel 'and thence, to the edge of thep'a'nel adjacent'th'e strip, in'cline toward'e'ach other in a greater degree.

ReferencesCited in-th'e file of thispat'ent m rmmmmwa 

